Have you ever asked this question about your writing?
I want to talk about a question I hear a lot from writers. But it’s not a very helpful one.
‘Am I wasting my time?’
When I hear this, I immediately feel a wave of compassion. What you’re often really asking is:
‘Am I going to fail?’
‘How will I cope if I do?’
‘Will I look like an idiot for trying?’
‘Should I just give up now?’
I hear you.
We all have those thoughts from time to time, myself included. It’s so scary making something up and sharing it with the world. But it’s also really joyful, right? Being creative, using your words and imagination to try to weave a story out of your very own mind.
But the question ‘am I wasting my time?’ only really demands a ‘yes or no’ answer. And if the answer that comes back to you is, ‘yes, you’re wasting your time!’ then what? Are you going to give up? Would you really trust someone else’s opinion over your own hopes and dreams?
What’s the real question?
I guess what you’re really trying to find out is
‘Will someone ever publish my book or produce my script?’
‘Am I going to be a success?’
‘Will I become a millionaire?’
‘Am I a literary genius?!’
Wouldn’t it be lovely to have the answer to those questions?
And yet, how can anyone predict this on the basis of your work in progress? There are so many other factors to consider, such as how many drafts you write, whether you get feedback or support along the way, how determined you are, how well you understand the market, and whether you’re willing to promote yourself.
Your success can never be predicted solely on the basis of a single work in progress – or whether or not you’ve come up with a good idea.
What should you be asking?
If you find yourself thinking, ‘Am I wasting my time?’ here are some alternative, more helpful steps to take.
Get some feedback, when you’re ready, from people you trust, who are also kind and supportive.
This could be other writers with a strong understanding of your genre, thoughtful readers who can analyse text, or a professional reader with experience giving feedback.
Next, rather than asking ‘am I wasting my time?’, ask these sorts of questions:
“Is my story clear, compelling and easy to follow?”
“Where did you get bored or lose interest?”“Are my characters coming off the page? Do their actions make sense and feel properly motivated? Is their dialogue consistent? Is there enough variety between my characters, or are any of them too similar?”
“In terms of my sentences, are they clear and easy to understand? Am I leading the reader by the hand? Or is my language confusing or overly complicated?”
The answers you receive will hopefully be specific and help you with the next phase of writing.
But remember, creative work is never a waste of time. Now, go write with joy!
Got a question?
Do get in touch, as I might be able to address it in a future blog post.
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Hi, I’m Katy. I’ve been coaching writers for over 6 years, and I love it. I’m also a working screenwriter with 50 commissioned animation scripts under my belt, for major series such as the Paw Patrol spin-off Rocky’s Garage. My own preschool animation series was developed with European funding and pitched at Cartoon Forum, the leading event for kids’ TV in Europe. My animated Christmas special Hopscotch and the Christmas Tree aired internationally and was nominated for two Irish Animation Awards.
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